A Ghost Story for Christmas

A Ghost Story for Christmas
Created by	Lawrence Gordon Clark
Country of origin	United Kingdom
No. of episodes	7
Production
Running time	40-50 minutes
Original release
Network	BBC1
Release	24 December 1971 – 25 December 1978
Related
Whistle and I'll Come to You (1968)

A Ghost Story for Christmas is a series of yearly short television films originally shown on BBC One from 1971 to 1978, and later revived in 2005 on BBC Four. The original series were all directed by Lawrence Gordon Clark and shot on 16mm film.

Each were separate tales of 40-50 minutes duration, often featuring well-known actors such as Robert Hardy, Peter Vaughan and Denholm Eliot. The first five were adaptations of ghost stories by M. R. James, the sixth was based on a short story by Charles Dickens and the two final installments were original screenplays by Clive Exton and John Bowen respectively.

An earlier black and white 1968 Omnibus adaptation of M.R. James's Whistle and I'll Come to You directed by Jonathan Miller is often cited as an influence upon the production of the yearly films, and is sometimes included in the canon. The series was revived by BBC Four in 2005 with a new series of annual adaptations.

Episode list

Title	Author	UK Broadcast Date	Description
The Stalls of Barchester	M. R. James, adapted by Lawrence Gordon Clark	24 December 1971	An ambitious cleric murders an aged Archdeacon at Barchester Cathedral. However, he is soon being stalked by a sinister black cat and by a hooded figure both of whom seem to be embodiments of carvings on the cathedral's choir stalls.
A Warning to the Curious	M. R. James, adapted by Lawrence Gordon Clark	24 December 1972	An amateur archaeologist travels to a remote seaside town in Norfolk to search for the lost crown of Anglia, but after unearthing it is haunted by a mysterious black figure.
Lost Hearts	M. R. James, adapted by Robin Chapman	25 December 1973	An orphan moves into the house of his uncle, but is disturbed by visions of a pair of ghostly children. Is their message a warning to be fearful of his uncle's obsession with immortality?
The Treasure of Abbot Thomas	M. R. James, adapted by John Bowen	23 December 1974	A respected theologian and his protege unearth clues to find the hidden treasure of a disgraced monk in an abbey library. Should he have heeded his own advice not to go treasure hunting?
The Ash Tree	M. R. James, adapted by David Rudkin	23 December 1975	An aristocrat inherits his family estate and is haunted by visions of his ancestor's role in a witchcraft trial.
The Signal-Man	Charles Dickens, adapted by Andrew Davies	22 December 1976	A railway signalman tells a curious traveller how he is being troubled by a ghostly spectre that seems to predict calamity.
Stigma	Clive Exton	28 December 1977	After a young couple move into a remote country house, workmen accidentally disturb an ancient menhir, unleashing a supernatural force.
The Ice House	John Bowen	25 December 1978	Residents at a health spa begin to suspect a strange flower growing in an old ice house in the grounds may be the cause of a series of misfortunes.

2005 revival

BBC Four began to produce new adaptations of M. R. James stories in 2005, shown along with repeats of episodes from the original 1970s series. Repeats of the series on BBC Four at Christmas 2007 included The Haunted Airman, a new adaptation of Dennis Wheatley's novel The Haunting of Toby Jugg by Chris Durlacher, athough this film was originally screened on 31 October 2006. For Christmas 2008, an original three-part ghost story by Mark Gatiss entitled Crooked House was produced instead, with the writer citing the original 1970s adaptations as a key influence. Several of the 1970s series have been released on DVD by the British Film Institute, along with Whistle and I'll Come to You.

Title	Author	UK Broadcast Date	Description
A View from the Hill	M. R. James, adapted by Peter Harness	23 December 2005	A man has an disturbing experience after borrowing a friend's pair of binoculars and venturing up a notorious landmark.
Number 13	M. R. James, adapted by Justin Hopper	22 December 2006	An academic researcher repudiates local superstitions surrounding a devilish house. However, repeated visions and noises during the night suggest he may be proved wrong.

Related works

Title	Author	UK Broadcast Date	Description
Whistle and I'll Come to You	M. R. James, adapted by Jonathan Miller	7 May 1968	An eccentric professor finds a whistle carved from bone in a graveyard while on holiday in Norfolk. After blowing the whistle, he is troubled by terrible visions.
The Haunted Airman	Dennis Wheatley, adapted by Chris Durlacher	15 December 2007 (originally premiered 31 October 2006)	An injured RAF Flight Lieutenant suffers from repeated horrific visions while recuperating at a remote mansion in Wales. However, he begins to suspect his psychiatrist or aunt may be responsible.

External links

• Ghost Stories at the BFI's Screenonline